EU lawmakers reject attempt to curb far right's sway on climate talks

By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to fast-track talks on the EU's new climate target, scuttling a move by liberal, socialist and green lawmakers to try to limit the influence of climate sceptic lawmakers on the goal.

The far-right Patriots of Europe group, which rejects EU policies to curb climate change, on Tuesday took on the role of lead negotiators for the 2040 climate target, seeking to steer talks on the goal, which the group said it firmly opposed.

Lawmakers rebuffed a proposal on Wednesday to fast-track the negotiations, which would have skipped stages where the Patriots could exert most influence, and limited their ability to set the timings for negotiations.

A total of 379 lawmakers rejected the plan to accelerate the talks, versus 300 in favour and eight abstentions.

The vote puts the Patriots firmly in the lead for the parliament as it negotiates the final 2040 climate target with EU member countries. The Patriots will now draft an initial negotiating proposal for the parliament.

A Patriots spokesperson said the group would not prioritise trying to meet a September deadline for countries to submit new climate targets to the United Nations.

"What truly matters is achieving a deal that delivers real benefits for our citizens. Patriots have never negotiated under pressure like traders in a marketplace," the spokesperson said.

The Patriots are the third-biggest lawmaker group in the EU Parliament and the group includes the political parties of France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

The Patriots secured the lead negotiating role in a closed-door meeting on Tuesday by outbidding the parliament's biggest group, the centre-right European People's Party, EU officials told Reuters.

Green lawmakers said they feared the target would now be watered down or face long delays. "There is an acute danger that the European Union's climate target will be buried," said German EU lawmaker Michael Bloss.

The attempt to fast-track the talks failed because it was not supported by the EPP - the party of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Dutch EPP EU lawmaker Jeroen Lenaers said the group did not deem the fast-track procedure necessary, and wanted to "improve" the Commission's proposed target to cut emissions 90% by 2040, without specifying further.

Some EPP lawmakers have said a 90% target is too ambitious. Governments from Italy to Poland have pushed back this year on ambitious emissions-cutting goals, citing concerns over the costs for industries.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Mark Heinrich)